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At the International Whaling Commission's 80th birthday summit in Hobart, a resolution to create a vast whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic was defeated, but several important advancements in whale protection were adopted. Brazil, the proponent of the sanctuary plan, vowed to continue seeking support for the cause at every IWC plenary session.

The sanctuary would span 21 million square kilometres, stretching from the equator to Antarctica, providing a continuous, permanent haven for whales during their feeding, breeding, and migratory cycles. However, the plan was defeated due to opposition from pro-whaling nations, who used their numbers to block the resolution. Despite the setback, the 70th meeting of the commission adopted several new resolutions that animal welfare groups applauded as major advancements in whale protection.

These include strengthening action on ship strikes, monitoring and reporting collisions with whales, recommending safer ship routes in high-risk areas, and promoting collaboration between shipping companies and maritime agencies. The summit also marked the first time the IWC reached a consensus on a single, unified declaration, signaling a significant step forward in unified whale conservation efforts.